A magistrate has criticised a drink driver who was four times over the legal limit saying it was the worst case he had seen in 20 years.

Martin Lively, 29, of Otterburn Avenue, Whitley Bay was arrested after his Audi A4 crashed into a traffic light on Sandyford Road, Newcastle, at 8.30pm on January 8. He was found to have 153mg of alcohol in his breath, nearly four times over the legal limit of 35mg.

Magistrates' chairman Paul Nicholson said: "There is a high risk you will go to prison and you should be prepared for that."

Pleading guilty to the charge, Lively was given bail and ordered to return on June 19.